The 29-year-old winger is under contract, without options, for next season at $1.6 million. He will not be eligible for Group 5 unrestricted free agency this summer, as one report incorrectly claimed.

“I’m signed, I’m signed,” Marshall said.

He’s also shaved. That U.S. Grant-style beard fell to the hedge-clippers after his first game with the Devils, a 3-2 loss to the Thrashers Tuesday at the Meadowlands.

The Devils are on the verge of being allowed to sprout their playoff beards, but until then, beards and mustaches are prohibited by Lou Lamoriello. Even coach Pat Burns shaved his trademark mustache in training camp.

“New team, new look,” said Marshall, acquired from Columbus for a conditional 2004 pick Monday. “That’s fine. It’s been a long time, almost nine years I’ve had that beard. My wife will laugh.

“Now I feel like I’m 15 again and can go back in the draft. Probably wouldn’t go as high, though.”

Marshall was a first-round choice of the Maple Leafs, 23rd overall, in 1992, but never played for the Leafs, transferred to Dallas with Peter Bezel as compensation for the Leafs’ signing of Mike Craig in 1994.

Marshall won a Cup with the Stars in 1999 and lost to the Devils in the 2000 finals and was traded to Columbus for a third-rounder in 2001.

While Marshall is set contractually for next season, the Devils inherit an option on the services of defenseman Richard Smehlik, also acquired Monday with the erasure of a conditional pick for a fourth-rounder in 2004. Smehlik is slated to make $2.5 million next season, but it seems highly unlikely the Devils will let the 33-year-old walk.

Both Marshall and Smehlik were expected to be in the lineup last night as the Devils visited the Bruins. New Jersey was trying to avoid losing a second straight game in regulation for the first time this season, and stood only 1-2-0-1 in its last four.